Abstract

Abstract Nucleic acid molecules can serve as robust ligands for aqueous synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs). QD properties including size, morphology, dispersity, emission maximum, and quantum yield are highly dependent on the sequences and structures of nucleic acids used for the synthesis. This synthetic strategy provides a novel facile means of constructing compact, stable, and biofunctionalized QDs in one step, which is of particular interest for a variety of applications such as biosensing, bioimaging, and self‐assembly. This article summarizes recent advances in nucleic acid‐templated QD synthesis with an emphasis on the nucleic acids‐based programing of quantum dots properties. A variety of applications based on DNA‐passivated QDs are also discussed. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2013, 5:86–95. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1191 This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology

Images

This WIREs title offers downloadable PowerPoint presentations of figures for non-profit,
educational use, provided the content is not modified and full credit is given to the author
and publication.

Schematic illustration of nucleic acids‐templated quantum dots (QDs) synthesis. QDs properties including their size and morphology, brightness, and emission wavelength can be tuned by tailoring nucleic acids sequences and structures. These DNA‐passivated QDs are applied to a variety of biological applications and can self‐assemble to high‐order assemblies for light harvesting and pH sensing.